Varahi

Varahi
Commander of the Matrikas
A contemporary image of Varahi
Other names	Varthali, Dandini Devi, Verai
Devanagari	वाराही
Sanskrit transliteration	Vārāhī
Affiliation	Matrikas, Devi, Lakshmi
Abode	Manidvipa, Vaikuntha
Mantra	Om Varahamukhi Vidmahe Dandahastaya Dhimahi Tanno Devi Prachodayat
Weapon	Plough and pestle
Mount	Buffalo
Consort	Vishnu as Varaha

Varahi (Sanskrit: वाराही, IAST:Vārāhī)^{[note 1]} is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother goddesses in the Hindu religion. Bearing the head of a sow, Varahi is the shakti (feminine energy) of Varaha, the boar avatar of the god Vishnu. In Nepal, she is called Barahi. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, she is venerated as Dandini.

Varahi is more commonly venerated in the sect of the Goddess-oriented Shaktism, but also in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva) and Vaishnavism (devotees of Vishnu). She is usually worshipped at night, using secretive Vamamarga Tantric practices. The Buddhist goddesses Vajravārāhī and Marichi have their origins in the Hindu goddess Varahi.
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